File formats supported for import with Media Encoder

Learn about the file formats for video, animation, and images that can be imported into Adobe Media Encoder.

Some filename extensions such as MOV, AVI, MXF, and FLV denote container file formats rather than representing specific audio, video, or image data formats. Container files can contain data encoded using various compression and encoding schemes. Adobe Media Encoder can import these container files, but the ability to import the data that they contain depends on which codecs (specifically, decoders) are installed.

By installing more codecs, you can extend the ability of Adobe Media Encoder to import extra file types. Many codecs must be installed into the operating system and work as a component inside the QuickTime or Video for Windows formats. Contact the manufacturer of your hardware or software for more information about codecs that work with the files that your specific devices or applications create.

Note:

As of September 15 2017, Adobe Creative Cloud apps now rely on your operating system (OS) to decode/encode Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus audio formats. Adobe no longer bundles the native libraries from Dolby with Creative Cloud products.

High Efficiency Video Coding. HEVC (also known as H.265) codec footage in a QuickTime (.MOV) container, such as produced by an iPhone or iPad with iOS 11 or a DJI Phantom 4 drone. VFR support. HEVC Hardware Encode (Feature available on both Mac OSX 10.13 and later and Windows 10 RS5). For information on HEVC video extensions supported on Windows, see HEVC Video Extensions.

FLV and F4V formats are container formats that are associated with a set of video and audio formats. F4V files generally contain video data that is encoded using an H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec. FLV files generally contain video data that is encoded using the On2 VP6 or Sorenson Spark codec and audio data encoded using an MP3 audio codec. Adobe Media Encoder, however, can import FLV files using the On2 VP6 video codec, not the Sorenson Spark codec. Also, Premiere Pro does not support FLV import.

Media eXchange Format (MXF) is a container format. Adobe Media Encoder can only import some kinds of data contained within MXF files. It can import the Op-Atom variety used by Panasonic cameras using the DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO HD, and AVC-Intra codecs to record to Panasonic P2 media. Adobe Media Encoder can also import XDCAM HD files in MXF format.

Several formats associated with specific modern cameras use MPEG-4 encoding. For example, the XDCAM EX format uses MP4 files, and the AVCHD format uses MTS files.

Audio formats

Format

Description

ASND, multi-track files imported as merged single track

Adobe Sound Document

Adobe Audition tracks

Audition track format

AAC, M4A

Advanced Audio Coding

AIF, AIFF

Audio Interchange File format

AVI, WAV

Video for Windows. Require QuickTime Player on Mac OS.

MP3, MPEG, MPG, MPA, MPE

MPEG Audio Layer 3

MPEG 2

MPEG 2

MOV; on Windows, require QuickTime player

QuickTime format

WAV

Waveform format

WMA, Windows only

Windows Media Audio format

Still-image formats

Format

Description

AI, EPS

Adobe Illustrator

ARI

ARRIRAW

BMP, DIB, RLE

Bitmap

CIN, DPX

Cineon/Digital Picture Exchange. Support for DPX asynchronous decode.

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format

HEIF

High Efficiency File Format supported on both Mac OS 10.13 or higher, and Windows 10 (version 1809 or higher). On Windows, both the HEIF image extension and the HEVC Video Extension needs to be installed. For information on HEIF image and HEVC Video extensions, see HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions.